Control mechanism



March 7, 1939. G, .1 UHLIG CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 1'7, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet l ff, YM.

March 7, 1939. G, J. UHLIG CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 17, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. /f W@ ATTORNEY.

March 7, 1939D G. J. UHLIG CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 17, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

March 7, 1939. G. 1 UHU@ 2,149,371

' CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 1'?, 193e 4 Sheets-shew 4 4 A IvATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES CONTROL MECHANISM tGfeorge J. Uhlig,Chicago,

Ill., assignor to Victor Adding Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Application August 17, 1936, Serial No. 96,495

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to a control mechanism, and is moreparticularly adapted to be operated by the control keys and a motor barof an adding or calculating machine for eiiect- .7, ing the connectionof the machine with its source of power, and which mechanism isautomatically released at a predetermined interval of operation of themachine.

The mechanism is illustrated as being attached to an adding machine inwhich a single revolution or cycle is required for the setting up andoperation of the parts and restoring them to their normal positions. Thecontrol mechanism is operable by the control keys and a motor bar,

any one of which, when depressed, will condition the control mechanismfor effecting the connec tion of the machine with its source of powerand the depressed key or bar may be released to normal position whilethe control mechanism remains in operative position during the cycle ofoperation oi the machine.

The invention is shown applied to a machine having connections of thetype illustrated and described in applicants Patent No. 2,017,641,granted October 15, 1935.

It sometimes occurs, in key-set machines of the type disclosed in theabove-mentioned patent, that when a selected control key has beendepressed to condition the machine for an operation, another key isaccidentally depressed during the operation of the machine, and it willeffect an error in the result, or cause the unselected key to conditionthe machine.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved, simplified control mechanism operable upon the depression 01'a control key or motor bar, which will effect its movement and thepositioning of the operative connections for a cycle of operation of thema- 40 chine and wherein the keys may be instantly released, whiie thecontrol mechanism remains in the position to which it has been moveduntil the operation of the machine is completed, and at which time, thecontrol mechanism is released to normal position.

A further object is to provide means coacting with the control mechanismwhereby, upon the depression of a selected control key or motor bar, themechanism will be conditioned for a cycle of operation or the machine,and thereafter the accidental depression of any of the remaining keyswill not alter the condition of the control mechanism. And a furtherobject is to provide a control w mechanism, which, when actuated by acontrol key or motor bar, will be conditioned to lock the same againstmovement with any of the remaining keys, until ther completion ofoperation of 60 the machine, and4v at which time, the control mechanismwill be automatically released and restored to its normal position.

With these and incidental objects in View, the invention consists incertain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and apreferred form of embo-:liment of which is hereinafter described withreference to the drawings which accompany and form part of thisspeciication.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure i is a side elevation, illustrating my device as attached to anadding machine, showing the casing of the machine in section and theconnections extending from the device to operate the machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial detail side elevation of the machine,illustrating the connections, control key and motor bar operativelyconnected with the control mechanism.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view in elevation of the control mechanism,illustrating its position with the motor bar depressed.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation, illustrating the position of thecontrol mechanism when a control key has been depressed to nearly itsentire distance.

Figure 5 is a View in side elevation, illustrating the position of thecontrol mechanism when a control key has been depressed its entiredistance.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the control mechanism taken on the line6-G of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective View of the main slide.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective View of the dog or pawl carried on themain slide.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective View of the bellcrank for eiectingmovement of the dog or paWl and the operative connections of the'machine with its source of power.

Figure li) is a detail perspective View oi the rockable member foreffecting movement of the bellecrank and locking the main slide when themotor bar is depressed.

Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of one of the bell-cranks thatare connected to the main slide for effecting its movement upon thedepression of a control key.

Figure l2 is a detail perspective View of one oi the locks carried onthe main slide for retaining the same in operative position when acontrol key has been depressed; and

Figure i3 is a detail perspective view of the lock for retaining themain slide in normal position when the motor bar is depressed.

The operable connections to which the invention is applied, comprise atripping mechanism A and a control switch B, adapted to besimultaneously actuated. The tripping mechanism A comprises a dependinglink l5 pivotally carried on a stud i8 fixed to the side plate il of themachine, and has its lower end provided with a pin I8 on which abell-crank i9 is pivotally carried and which has a pin 28 fixed in oneof its legs to which a link 2i is connected, and which link is pivotallycarried on the side plate l1 by means of a shoulder screw 22. The link2! and 'the bell-crank l5 form a toggle joint and are urged to theposition shown in Fig. l, by means of a spring 23 secured to the link 2land to an arm 25 fixed to the depending link i5. This arm 24 is providedwith an extending portion 25 that is in the path of a follower 25carried on the link 2i, which is pivoted on a stud 28 extending from adisc 28 that is xed to the shaft 35 of a driving mechanism of themachine. This link 2l extends forwardly and is pivoted to a stud 3lcarried on a lever 32 fixed to the actuator shaft 33 of the machine. Thetoggle connection of the tripping mechanism A comprises the bell-crankl5 and link 2i, and is operatively connected to a link 34 which extendsto the control mechanism C, and which link is pivotally connected at 35to the bell-crank i9.

The control switch B comprises a pair of contact points 35 and 31, whichare adapted to be forced into closed position upon one direction ofmovement of a link 38, which is also operatively connected to thecontrol mechanism C. This link 38 is provided with an elongated slotopening 39 through which a pin 48 fixed to the side plate H, extends toguide the link, and the free end of this link is also provided with anelongated slot opening 4I to receive a pin i2 on an arm i3 pivotallycarried on a stud i4 fixed to the side plate i1. The free end 53a. ofthe arm 43 carries an insulated roller 45 which is adapted to engage thecontact point 38 to effect its engagement with the contact point 3i toclose the circuit. When the circuit is closed, an arm 4B which is alsopivoted on the stud 14, will be urged counter-clockwise by a link ilwhich has a spring 48 fixed thereto and to the side plate Il. The link41 is connected at 59 to one leg 58 of a bell-crank 5I that is pivotallycarried on a stud 52 xed to the side plate I1, and which bell-crank hasits other leg 53 provided with a follower 55 that is adapted to normallyride on the periphery of the disc 29. This disc 29 is also provided witha cam portion 28a, which, upon the completion of operation of themachine, will engage the follower 54 and effect a pull on the link 5'!to carry the arm 55 away from the insulated roller 45 to break thecircuit.

The link 34 is adapted to be pulled forwardly to actuate the trippingmechanism A and break the toggle joint, and when broken, the dependinglink l5 will be swung rearwardly with the extension 25 of the arm 25,out of the path of the follower 25 to permit the link 2i to be drivenwith the disc 29.

The tripping mechanism and the control switch have been fullyillustrated and described in my Patent No. 2,017,641, granted Octoberl5, 1935, and it is to the operative connections thereof that myimproved device is attached.

The control mechanism C forming the subject matter of this application,comprises a main slide 55 carried for reciprocating movements on a platev 55 secured to the side plate Ii of the machine.

The main slide 55 is provided with elongated slot openings 51 and 58adjacent each end thereof through which the studs 58 and 85,respectively, extend to guide theY same. The main slide 55 is urgedrearwardly to normal position, (to the right as viewed in Figs. i, 2, 3,4 and 5), by means of a spring 8l fixed thereto and to a pin 82 carriedon the plate 55. The main slide 55 also carries a pair of studs 83 and8B to each of which studs a bell-crank 55--85 is operatively connectedby means of a bifurcated opening 88-88 in the upper end of the legs iii-8i of the bellcranks. These bell-cranks -55 are carried on the studs88-55 iixed to the plate 55, and are of U-formation, having their otherleg Hl- 18 disposed on the inner side of the plate 55 and provided withan inwardly directed pin 'H-'ll adapted Yto be engaged by a pair ofcontrol keys *i2-52a and 'i3-13a, respectively.

The main slide 55 also carries a dog or pawl lli which is pivoted to astud 'i5 thereon, and which dog or pawl is urged against an ear 'I8 onthe slide by means of a spring Ti fixed thereto and to the slide.

A bell-crank 'i8 is mounted independently of the main slide 55 on a stud'i8 extending from the plate 55 and this bell-crank carries a pin 85which is normally adapted to overlie the dog o1' pawl rocked. Thebell-crank i8 also carries a pin 8l which extends outwardly on each sidethereof and which pin is adapted to engage a shoulder 35a on the link34. The pin 8l is also adapted to be engaged by the end Ma of the pawll, when the i" siide 55 is moved. The link 35 has its free end portion82 provided with an elongated slot opening 83 that receives the stud 55,which serves to support and guide the link 35 readily engage- 'ii, todepress the same as the bell-crank is able by the pin 8l on thebell-crank '18. The i3-S bell-crank 18 also carries a pin 78D to whichthe link 38 of the control switch B is operatively connected.

A rocker 85 is also pivoted on the stud 19 and is provided with aninturned vertically disposed .p

ear 85 at its forward end portion which is normally below a horizontallydisposed ear S6 formed at the forward end of the main slide 55. Therocker 85 is normally urged with an extension 85a. thereof intoengagement with the stud 59 y by means of a spring 3'! xed thereto andto a pin 88 carried on the plate 55. The rearward end of the rockercarries a pin 89 which normally overlies an edge 8a. of the bell-crank'i8 for effecting its movement upon the movement of the rocker 85. Therocker also carries a stud 58 which is adapted to be engaged by the stem9| of a motor bar 52, which effects movement of the rocker 8 whendepressed. The rocker 85 also has an extension 53 which is adapted toengage and move a hook` member to retain the main slide 55 in its normalat-rest position when the rocker 8 is rocked.

The hook member 84 is pivoted on the stud 'i5 adjacent the pawl i5, andhas a friction washerY 95 coacting therewith to retain the same in theposition to which it has been moved. The hook member 9- is provided withan extension 94a that is in the path of movement of an extension 85 of apawl 5l which is pivoted on a pin 55 carried on the main slide 55. Thepawl 91 has a spring 58 fixed thereto and to the main slide 55, whichyieldingly urges the engaging end Hi8 of the pawl readily engageablewith the stud 58, when the slide 55 is moved, (Fig. 5). Thepawl 9i isalso provided with an extension i8! which has an inturned end |62thereon adapted to normally extend into the path of either of the pinsE53 or 55 carried on the disc 29. The pin |83 isadapted to-engage-theinturned end |52 ofthe control key, the ear 86 pawl 91 when the mainslide position, and the pin |04 is adapted to engage the inturned end|02 when the main slide 55 is moved to operative position.

As thus far described, it will be seen that the main slide 55 is movedforwardly or to the left, as viewed in the drawings, upon the depressionof one of the control keys 12-12a or 13-13a. When depressed, the lowerend of the selected control key will engage a stud 1| of one of thebell-cranks 55 and effect its rocking movement on its stud 68 or 69, andby reason of its connection 63-68 or 64-66 will eifect a forward slidingmovement of the main slide 55 against the tension of its spring 6|. Theforward movement of the slide 55 will carry the dog or pawl 14 therewithfor a partial free movement before the end 14a thereof engages the pin8| on the bell-crank 18, which permits of nearly a full depression ofthe key, and when engaged, the dog or pawl 14 will cause a rockingmovement of this bell-crank, and by reason of the pin 8| also engagingthe shoulder 34a of the link 34, the link will be carried therewith torelease the tripping movement of the bell-crank 18 will exert a pull onthe link 38 to effect a rocking movement of the arm 43 with the roller45 thereon to operate the control switch B and close the contact points38-31 to complete the circuit. While the bell-crank 18 is being rockedduring the forward movement of the main slide 55, the pin 80 will engagethe dog 14v and gradually depress the same, (Fig. 4), until the mainslide has been moved to nearly its entire distance and at which time,the end 14a of the dog 14 will be forced by the pin 80 out of engagementwith the pin 8| to release the bell-crank, (Fig. 5). When released, thebell-crank will be free to be restored to' its normal position under theinfluence of the spring 23 which urges the tripping mechanism A to itsnormal position immediately after it has been released, to againposition the extending portion 25 into the path of the follower 28 onthe link 21 to be engaged thereby upon the completion of its operationwith the disc 29. The restoring movement of the bell-crank 18 alsorestores the link 38, which is permitted to move at this timeindependently of the arm 43, so as to retain the control switch Aclosed, and as the cam 29a on the periphery of the disc 29 engages thefollower 54 to rock the bell-crank 5|, it will exert a pull on the link41 and rock the arm 46 therewith to relieve the pressure thereof againstthe roller 45 to break the circuit.

When the main slide 55 has been moved forwardly its entire distance,(Fig. 5), the engaging end |00 of the lock pawl 91 will engage the studand retain the main slide 55 locked in its advanced forward positionuntil the pin |04 on the disc 29 has engaged the inturned end |92 on theextension |0| of the pawl to release the same. The purpose for retainingthe slide locked in its forward position, is to retain the bell-crankscoacting therewith, in rocked position with the studs 1| thereon intheir lowermost positions, so that, should a control key be accidentallydepressed after a selected control key has positioned the main slide, itwill not alter the operation of the machine.

It will also be noted that when the main slide 55 is moved to thisforward position by a selected of the slide will be positioned over theear 85 of the rocker 84, and lock the rocker against movement under thecontrol of the motor bar 92.

55 is in normal When the machine is conditioned for normal operationsand the motor bar 92 is depressed, the end 9| thereof will engage thestud 59 cn the rocker 84 and rock the same with the ear 85 thereof inthe path of the ear 88 on the main slide 55, (Fig. 3), to lock the slideagainst movement. The pin 89 of the rocker 84 will engage the top edge18a of the bell-crank 18 to rock the same and the pin 8| thereon willengage the shoulder 34a of the link 34 and exert a pull thereon torelease the tripping mechanism A, and this movement of the bell-crank 18will also exert a pull on the link 38 to close the control switch in thesame manner as above described. While the bellcrank 18 is being movedunder the control of the rocker 84, the pin on the bell-crank willdepress the pawl 14, but in this instance, the pawl has no function.

As the pressure is released from the motor bar 92, a spring 92a fixedthereto and to the top plate of the machine, will restore the same withits stem and permit the rocker to be instantly urged to its normalposition by its spring 81 to release the bell-crank 18. When released,the bell-crank 'E8 will be urged to its normal position by the link 34connected thereto, in the same manner as above described, when a controlkey is depressed. As the rocker 84 is rocked upon the depression of themotor bar 92, the end 53 of the rocker will engage the hook member 94,(Fig. 3), and cause the same to engage the stud 88 to positively retainthe slide 55 against accidental movement.

It will be noted that when the pressure is released from the motor bar92, the rocker 84 will be instantly restored by its spring 8'! to normalposition and the ear 85 of the rocker will be carried out of the path ofthe ear 86 of the main slide 55, and the hook member 84 serves to retainthe main slide locked during the operation of the machine and after themotor bar and rocker have been restored to their normal positions. Inthis instance, the pin |83 on the disc 29 will be carried to engage theinturned end |02 of the extension |l9| rock the same until the engagesthe end 94a of rock this hook member the stud 80 extension 98 of thepawl the hook member 94 to out of engagement with to release the slide55. The hook member 94 will remain in this raised position by means ofthe friction washer engaging the same.

When the main slide 55 is locked against operation by means of the hookmember 94, the studs 'll-1| of the bell-cranks 55-65 are retainedreadily engageable by the control keys 'l2-12a and 13-13a, but arelocked from movement by the main slide, and it is then impossible todepress a control key. When the main slide is locked in its advancedposition the studs 1|-1I of the bell-cranks 55-65 are retained therebyin lowered positions, and the depression of a key is possible, but itwill not effect the movement of the main slide.

I'he pawl 91 is normally urged upwardly by the Y spring 99 with theengaging end 08 thereof readily engageable with the stud 68 when themain slide 55 is moved forwardly.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form ofembodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible ofembodiment in on the pawl 91, and will by the pawl 91, 2'-

various forms, all coming within the scope oi the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A control mechanism of the character described, comprising, a slidecarried for reciprocating movements, a bell-crank adapted to be moved bysaid slide, a rockable member adapted to move said bell-crankindependently of said slide, operative connections arranged for movementwith said bell-crank, and depressible means operatively connected to theslide and rockable member for effecting independent movements thereof,and means on said slide and rockable member rendering one inoperativeduring the movements of the other.

2. A control mechanism of the character described, comprising, a slidecarried for reciprocating movements and having spring means normallyurging the same in one direction, a bell-crank operatively connected tosaid slide, a rockable member operatively connected with the bellcranlsto move the same independently of said slide, a pair of lock means onthe slide for locking the same against movement and for retaining thesame in its moved position, and means on said rockable member adapted toeiect movement of the lock means for retaining the slide in its normalposition when said rockable member is moved to move the bell-crank.

3. A control mechanism for a machine having operative connections and acontrol switch adapted to be controlled thereby comprising, areciprocable slide, yieldable means urging the slide in one direction, aspring-urged pawl mounted on said slide, a bell-crank mounted in closeproximity with the slide and adapted to be moved by said pawl, saidoperative connections being actuated by movement of the bell-crank, anddepressible means operative upon depression to move said slide to movethe bell-crank.

4. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, aswingable member, a pair o members comprising a slide and rocker foreffecting movement of said swingable member, the said swingable memberadapted to be permanently connected to the parts of a machine to beactuated and selectively controlled by said pair of members,manipulative devices, said pair of members being arranged to selectivelyeffect movement of the swingable member under the control of themanipulative devices, and means on the pair of members whereby the slideof said pair of members when moved locks the rocker against movement andthe rocker of said pair of members when moved locks the slide Vagainstmovement.

5. The combination of claim 4 hereof in which there are lock meanscarried on one of said pair of members for locking the same in theposition to which it has been moved and controlled by the other of saidpair of members for withholding movement of said nrst member.

6. In a machine having operative connections for connecting the machinewith its source of power, a swingable member connected to said operativeconnections, a reciprocable member, a rockable member, said reciprocableand rockable members being operatively connected to said swingablemember, manipulative keys and a motor bar controlling the movements ofsaid reciprocable and rockable members respectively to move theswingable member, means operable by movement of said rockable memberwithholding vthe reciprocable member from movement and rendering saidmanipulative keys ineffective during the connection of the machine withits source of power.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination withconnections for connecting the machine with its source of power, of acontrol mechanism therefor, said control mechanism comprising a memberconnected with said connections, a pair of members adapted toselectively move the same, a plurality of control keys, a motor bar, oneof said pair of members being under the control of the control keys andthe other of said members being under the control of the motor bar foreifecting movement of said first-mentioned member, and lock meansoperatively controlled by said members for retaining one of the membersof the control mechanism locked with the operative connections of themachine until a cycle of operation thereof has been substantiallycompleted.

8. In a machine having operative connections for connecting the samewith its source of power, a control mechanism operatively connected tosaid connections, manipulative devices for actuating the controlmechanism, said control mechanism comprising a swingable memberconnected to said connections, a reciprocating member and a rockablemember operatively connected to eiect movement of said swingable memberunder control of said manipulative devices, said reciprocating androckable members being arranged for independent movements under thecontrol of the manipulative devices to swing the swingable member andfor rendering one inoperative by movement of the other.

9. The combination of claim 8 hereof in which there are lock means onsaid reciprocable member, one of said lock means being controlled bymovement of said reciprocable member and the other of said lock meansbeing controlled by movement of the rockable member whereby to lock thereciprocable member in either direction of its movement, said lock meansbeing operatively connected'together and with the machine for releasingthe lock means to release the reciprocable member substantially upon thecompletion of operation of the machine.

10. A control mechanism of the character described, comprising, a memberoperatively connected to the parts to be controlled, a reciprocablemember, a rockable member, said members being operatively connected tomove said firstmentioned member independently of each other, and meanson the reciprocable member forming means to engage and move saidfirst-mentioned member and to be disengaged thereby upon a givendistance of its movement.

l1. A control mechanism for a machine having a tripping mechanism and acontrol switch therefor comprising, a main member carried forreciprocating movements, a swingable member adapted to be swung thereby,a rocker adapted to swing said swingable member, and lock means coactingwith the reciprocating member for locking the same when moved and lock'means for locking said reciprocating member while in its normalposition, said first-mentioned lock means being rendered effective bymovement of the reciprocating member and said last-mentioned lock meansbeing rendered effective by movement of said rocker, said lock meansbeing releasable substantially upon the completion of operation of themachine.

GEORGE J. UHLIG.

